We’ve long been enamored with the remarkable Mezcals of Mezcal Vago, and our seminar on Wednesday this week only served to cement our admiration for these fascinating bottles. As we’ve mentioned before, Mezcal captures a distinct sense of place that you just don’t find in the vast majority of spirits. Unlike grape vines, which produce fruit every year of their life that can span decades or even centuries, the agave plants used for Mezcal production are at the end of their life cycle, which ranges from 5-50 years. Like wine, though, each harvest and variety bring a unique set of characteristics.

Tradition runs deep in Oaxaca, particularly with the mezcaleros who supply the Mezcal Vago stable, whose families have been making Mezcal further back than they can even trace. Knowledge and expertise have been passed down through generations by word of mouth. The backbreaking work necessary to harvest the unwieldy agave plants in the sun washed hills of Oaxaca coupled with the exacting art and time consuming nature of distillation at the small scale palenques make this a profession reserved only for those with an extreme amount of passion, patience and devotion.

The word artisan is tossed around casually these days, but the two mezcaleros that we are highlighting today are true examples of the term – sweat on their brows, dust on their boots and dirt under their fingernails. We obsess over Burgundy largely due to characters like these, who humbly dedicate their lives to expressing the beauty and heritage of their sacred land, and we’ve fallen hard for these Mezcals for many of the same reasons. Whether you are a casual spirits enthusiast or completely versed in the category, you’ll be similarly entranced after your first sip.

The bottles below are offered on a first come, first served basis. Follow the links below to purchase directly from our site or call/email us if you need some assistance. Note that we cannot ship spirits out of NY state, but we're happy to hold them until your next visit!

We will be open tomorrow during our normal hours from 12-6 but will be closed on Monday in observance of Memorial Day. Have a wonderful long weekend!

Cheers,
  
THE BOTTLES
In Order of Price Below
Mezcal Vago - Mezcal Espadin
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6 BOTTLES AVAILABLE @ $55/BOTTLE
Espadin is known as the workhorse of Mezcal agave, one of the few species that can actually be cultivated and one that can reproduce clonally. The species is a blank canvas for the mezcalero to showcase his skill. This version, made by Aquilino Lopez, the father-in-law of the founder of Vago, is an exceptional drink and a great introduction to the category – chalky, mineral and extremely fine, with just the right amount of smoke.
Mezcal Vago - Mezcal Elote
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6 BOTTLES AVAILABLE @ $56/BOTTLE
Elote makes use of the corn that is often found growing alongside the agave plants in the region. This version is also made by Aquilano and is unique to his palenque. Toasted corn infuses the distillate of Espadin and creates a sense of maltiness and sweetness that give this bottle an added weight and approachability that’s extremely crowd pleasing.
Mezcal Vago - Ensamble En Barro
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6 BOTTLES AVAILABLE @ $83/BOTTLE
Ensemble en Barro is the creation of another Mezcalero, Solomon ‘Tio’ Rey Rodriguez, made from a selection of Espadin and another variety known as Coyote. Rodriguez crushes his roasted agave by hand using the ultra-traditional wooden mallet and distills with traditional clay pot stills, which gives this Mezcal a pungent earthiness that is especially unique. It has a wonderful grainy texture and fantastic purity that really makes it stand out.
Mezcal Vago - Mezcal Tepeztate
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6 BOTTLES AVAILABLE @ $115/BOTTLE
Tepeztate is one of the more singular offerings from Vago, and one that will not be made much longer due to the scarcity of the variety and the time it takes to mature (25+ years). Another Aquilano creation, this a creamy, floral, fresh, impeccably balanced spirit that will floor you with its power and length. It was almost unanimously the favorite from the 8 that we tasted on Wednesday. 
Mezcal Vago - Mezcal Tobala
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6 BOTTLES AVAILABLE @ $125/BOTTLE
Tobala was the spirit in the Vago stable that really sparked our fascination with Mezcal in general. Tobala is an extremely rare, revered variety of Agave that generally grows wild in a few specific pockets high up in the mountains of Oaxaca. The Tobala plant requires 8-10 years of growth before it reaches maturity. It's earthy, peppery, bright, smoky, citrusy and just a hint tropical (think roasted pineapple). The finish lasts long after your final sip, in the best way possible.